Wyndham Destinations buys Travel + Leisure for $100 million

Wyndham Destinations has confirmed today that it has acquired the Travel + Leisure brand from the Meredith Corporation for $100 million. 

This mega-deal includes all related assets from Meredith Corporation, combining the travel company’s portfolio of resort, membership, and lifestyle travel brands with the world’s most trusted travel lifestyle content curator and its travel clubs. This acquisition will accelerate Wyndham Destinations’ strategic plan to build on its leading position as the world’s largest vacation club and exchange company and expand into new leisure travel and licensing markets.

“We acquired Travel + Leisure, including access to its global audience of 35 million loyal followers across multiple platforms and nearly 60,000 club members, because it matches our passion and purpose to put the world on vacation. Over the past 18 months, we have laid the foundation to expand our footprint beyond our core vacation ownership business, and today we add one of the most trusted and influential brands in travel through the acquisition of Travel + Leisure,” said Michael D. Brown, president and chief executive officer of Wyndham Destinations.

Five new Hyatt Hotels open in China

The new openings reinforce Hyatt’s commitment to reach China’s underserved upper-midscale segment and strategically grow the Hyatt brand in China.

Hyatt together with its partners and affiliates have opened its first five properties – UrCove Shanghai Jing’an, UrCove Shanghai Lujiazui EXPO, UrCove Shanghai Wujiaochang, UrCove Chengdu City Centre and UrCove Nanjing South Railway Station. 

These new additions to Hyatt’s portfolio in these popular destination cities in China aim to better serve the highly mobile travellers in the upper-mid segment.  This will further help to demonstrate the hotel groups commitment to achieve meaningful growth in the region. 

“China remains a priority market for Hyatt’s growth, and we are committed to unlocking the huge potential of the country’s emerging middle class and growing domestic travel trends,” said Stephen Ho, president of growth and operations, Asia Pacific, Hyatt. “UrCove hotels cater to the underserved premium upper-midscale segment and with five UrCove hotels open in the major gateway cities of Shanghai, Chengdu and Nanjing, the brand is more accessible for this large, attractive and growing customer base."

Discounted flights to Shanghai here.

Take that, 2020 - here’s how to experience an Orlando vacation that puts “true revenge” on the year that travel was on hold.

Take that, 2020 - here’s how to experience an Orlando vacation that puts “true revenge” on the year that travel was on hold.

For many, it’s safe to say 2020 put a real wrench in one’s travel plans. With this New Year, many travellers are ready to take a much-needed, long-awaited vacation, and Orlando ranks among the top 2021 trending travel destinations.  Below are ways to make a 2021 Orlando vacation at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort “next level” and make up for lost travel memories:

Reserve a vacation now and save 20 percent, with the Resort’s Advance Purchase package.  Planning ahead has its perks; this package is the best value offer available. With inclusions such as a complimentary daily kids’ camp for ages 4 and older, kids 5 and younger dine free, complimentary access to The Spa’s relaxation lounges, and an exclusive five-acre (two-hectare) water park, there are numerous added values included with a stay. Plus, the guest rooms and suites have all undergone a recent enhancement, and Four Seasons Lead With Care program puts the health, safety and comfort of guests at the forefront.

Book flights to Orlando at discount prices

Major expansion planned for Europe by Hyatt Hotels.

Hyatt Hotels has announced plans to grow its brand portfolio in Europe significantly by the end of 2023 with more than 20 executed managed and franchised deals for new hotels in some of the most desirable destinations in the world. These properties are expected to join 63 Hyatt-branded hotels across nine distinct brands in 22 European countries. Andaz, Alila, and Hyatt Centric – Hyatt’s lifestyle brands – and The Unbound Collection by Hyatt – one of Hyatt’s independent collection brands – make up half of Hyatt’s executed deals in Europe. This growth is fueled by a growing desire from travelers, World of Hyatt members, and owners for hotels that offer unique, differentiated experiences that foster genuine connections with people and cultures.

“Hyatt is in the process of transforming the hotel landscape in Europe with planned openings for new Hyatt-branded hotels in some of the most sought-after leisure destinations in the world,” said Peter Norman, senior vice president real estate and development EAME/SWA, Hyatt. “Supported by strong brand recognition and demand for the high-quality experiences for which Hyatt is known, we look forward to welcoming guests and World of Hyatt members in these key European destinations. Further, with half of Hyatt’s executed pipeline in Europe consisting of franchise agreements, we are thrilled to collaborate with a number of new, as well as existing, owners to bring these exciting projects to fruition.”

New Hyatt hotel coming to London in 2024

Hyatt announced this week that with Olympus Property Holding Limited its plans to develop a new Hyatt Regency hotel in London. 

The 196-room hotel is slated to open in 2024 and will mark the eighth Hyatt-branded property and the second Hyatt Regency hotel in London. Hyatt Regency London Olympia will add to the current portfolio of Hyatt Regency hotels in the United Kingdom, joining Hyatt Regency Birmingham, Hyatt Regency Manchester, and Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill.

Situated in a new development in West London, Hyatt Regency London Olympia will mark the second Hyatt Regency hotel in the capital

Hyatt Regency London Olympia will deliver personalized and energizing guest experiences as well as the stress-free environment that embodies the Hyatt Regency brand ethos. Business and leisure travelers alike will enjoy seamless, intuitive service alongside memorable dining experiences as well as flexible spaces to work, collaborate, or relax.

New offers for World of Hyatt members

World of Hyatt has released more details of its latest promotions to help members plan for the year ahead with a lot less to worry about.  

World of Hyatt is making significant changes to its elite status qualifications for the 2021 calendar year by reducing the Base Point and Tier-Qualifying Night requirements by 50 percent for members to earn or maintain elite status, as compared to the program’s standard requirements. Additionally, World of Hyatt is extending several rewarding offers through the beginning of 2021, giving members more time to accelerate point earnings and boost tier status when they are ready to travel again.

“In talking with our members and understanding some are not ready or able to travel as often as they hoped, we want to make sure they feel cared for and recognized for their loyalty. That is why we are offering members even more flexibility when it comes to achieving elite status next year, in addition to giving them more time to take advantage of compelling offers,” said Amy Weinberg, senior vice president, loyalty, brand marketing and consumer insights, Hyatt. “2020 was unprecedented in many ways and as we look toward 2021, our priority remains staying close to our World of Hyatt members to understand their needs and instill confidence as they plan for future travels.”

Hyatt Hotels opens Thompson Dallas - a luxury destination hotel

Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced the opening of Thompson Dallas, which is part of the award-winning lifestyle hospitality brand Thompson Hotels. As the first Thompson Hotel property in Texas, Thompson Dallas is located at 205 N. Akard Street in the historic George-Dahl-designed building, The National, and features 219 rooms, including 52 suites, two penthouse suites.

The hotel also features two world-class culinary destinations: Nine at The National and Catbird. The restoration of The National’s $460 million preservation, paired with the Thompson Hotels brand’s elevated culinary offerings, arts and entertainment, and groundbreaking design, bridges Dallas’ rich legacy of The National with the Thompson Hotels brand’s take on modern luxury at the refined edge of travel. The hotel’s design is brought to life through a collaboration between Caroline Todd of Todd Interiors and Cindy Zelazny of Interiors Limited. Merriman Anderson Architects are the architects of record for the development and are also involved in the interior design.

Wheelock Street Capital Announces Acquisition of Hotel Contessa

Wheelock Street Capital announced it has acquired Hotel Contessa, a 265 room, all-suite and AAA Four-Diamond luxury, independent hotel located at 306 West Market Street in San Antonio, TX.

The 12-story hotel, built in 2005, benefits from its central location along San Antonio’s highly sought-after Riverwalk with direct access to many of the city’s top cultural destinations, including The Alamo, San Antonio’s Central Business District and the recently expanded Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. The Property offers 10,000 square feet of function space, a rooftop pool, a full-service restaurant and bar opening directly onto the Riverwalk and a full-service spa. Wheelock plans to complete a full renovation of the ground floor restaurant and bar in the coming months. The hotel currently operates independent of a national brand affiliation and maintains an outsized transient base in one of the nation’s premier drive-to leisure markets.

Iconic airline brand returning to the building that once was its hostess training college.....

Braniff Airways, Incorporated, dba Braniff International, the former international airline based in Dallas and now a leading global historic airline branding and marketing, retail and historic airliner tour firm, signed an historic licensing agreement May 21, 2020, for the licensing of a new Braniff hotel project at the former Airline’s Hostess College located at 2801 Wycliff Avenue in the Oaklawn district of Dallas, according to Braniff Chairman Richard Ben Cass.

The agreement was signed with Dallas historical property developer MM Property Holdings, Inc. (Centurion American), the new owner of the Hostess College property, which was purchased from Greenway Properties of Dallas. MM Property Holdings was the developer of the famed and historic 169-room Statler Hilton Hotel in Dallas, which was fully restored to its former glory in 2018.

New Hyatt Hotel to come to Palm Beach County in Florida......

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has confirmed it has entered into a deal with a franchise partner for a new Destination Hotel - The Banyan Cay Resort & Golf in Palm Beach County, Florida which is expected to open for business late 2021.

With 150 guestrooms, Banyan Cay Resort & Golf will offer independent-minded travellers a 5,000 square-foot spa and fitness centre, tennis pavilion, swimming pools, and three food and beverage venues, including signature restaurants and golf clubhouse dining. Banyan Cay Resort & Golf will be situated just six miles from pristine beaches and conveniently located near West Palm Beach International Airport. 

oneworld, SkyTeam and Star Alliance support a globally harmonised approach to health testing to build a framework of trust

World’s airline alliances join together to call on international governments to act quickly to adopt testing protocols 

and digital health pass technology to reopen borders

 

The three global airline alliances, oneworld, SkyTeam and Star Alliance, are in full support of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) second-phase Council on Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART) report released on 10 November. Together, they urge governments to implement the report guidelines for passenger testing protocols, as well as the adoption of digital health pass technology, so air travel may safely resume.

Government-imposed travel and entry restrictions continue to significantly impact global travel demand. Meanwhile, COVID-19 testing has emerged as an important part of an end-to-end solution to enable the safe restart of international travel by potentially reducing the reliance on the blunt instrument of blanket quarantines.

 

“We welcome the publication of the updated CART report which, among other things, calls for the serious consideration of screening and testing as a means for easing travel and border restrictions, and reviving the travel and tourism industry and the global economy,” said Star Alliance CEO Jeffrey Goh. “A robust protocol for testing will also provide further evidence to demonstrate that air travel is not a material cause for infections and will pave the way for a framework of trust to be established between countries.”

 

Hilton have the answer when working from home becomes too much of a chore.......

Best work-from-hotel guestrooms

For many, the continued threat of COVID-19 has made working from home the new normal for the foreseeable future. While there have been many benefits to this new way of life, there have also been a few gripes – from unstable Wi-Fi signals to uncomfortable workstations and the need for a distraction-free hour or two for an important meeting or to spark inspiration. Based on this new reality, WorkSpaces by Hilton presents a new work-from-hotel solution for both corporate customers and individuals seeking private office space to increase efficiency in their workday.

To provide more value for Hilton’s loyal customers during this time, the company launched an exclusive Hilton Honors offer this week, allowing members to earn 10,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after completing their first WorkSpaces by Hilton stay at participating locations. Hilton Honors members can also enjoy exclusive benefits, including the ability to earn Points and stay credit. Elite members are also eligible for space-available room upgrades, premium Wi-Fi and Executive Lounge access (where available). 

You can now enjoy a clean, convenient and distraction-free workspace at participating Hilton hotels across the U.S., UK and some parts of Canada. Consider one of the below Hilton properties for your next “work-from-hotel” day.